Celebrating worldwide, online: Royal Roads’s 48th convocation

More than 780 new Royal Roads University graduates across Canada and around the world are set to celebrate their remarkable success in a challenging time at Spring 2021 Convocation Friday, June 18 at 2 p.m.

The university’s 48th convocation, which will be held entirely online for only the second time in the university’s 25-year history, will confer degrees, certificates or diplomas in the Faculty of Management, the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences and the College of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Indigenous graduates will also gather in an additional, private ceremony June 17. This year, 13 First Nations, six Métis and three Inuit students will be honoured. 

“The courage and resilience our graduates have shown throughout the pandemic is extraordinary. They have survived and even thrived in a rapidly changing world,” says President and Vice-Chancellor Philip Steenkamp. “This is our aim at Royal Roads, to equip each and every student with the skills needed to tackle every challenge.”

The university’s latest graduates will join a strong community of more than 30,600 RRU alumni worldwide.

Former premier Dan Miller, international educator Dr. Weichang Yang to receive honorary degrees

Royal Roads will present an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to former British Columbia premier Dan Miller, for his determination to improve education in British Columbia, and for his part in the creation of the university. Miller introduced the Royal Roads University Act in BC’s legislature in 1995.

The university will also confer an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on international educator Dr. Weichang Yang, for his work to create a more innovative and tolerant world through education and his commitment to upholding and promoting diversity in academia. In a typical year, hundreds of students from Dr. Yang’s Beifang International Education Group visit Royal Roads for educational programs.

“Dan Miller and Weichang Yang are both innovators who have touched the educational journeys of tens of thousands of students in BC and the world,” says Royal Roads University Chancellor Nelson Chan. “In this year of rapid and necessary educational innovation and creativity, they are apt honorees and I look forward to celebrating them along with our graduates.”

Read more about Dan Miller and Dr. Weichang Yang in our news stories.

Townsin, Cuckovich and other graduates to receive awards

Royal Roads University will present awards to recognize the remarkable academic achievements of 35 graduates during the ceremonies.

Among the graduates receiving awards are Master of Arts in Global Leadership graduate Cheryl-Lynn Townsin, who receives the Chancellor’s Award, and Bachelor of Business Administration in Business and Sustainability graduate Chase Cuckovich, who receives both the Chancellor’s Award and the President’s Scholar Award.

Read more about the recipients of the Chancellor’s Award and other graduate award recipients.

Join the excitement Friday, June 18

You can watch the ceremony on the Royal Roads website and on YouTube and Facebook June 18 starting at 2 p.m. PST.

The ceremony will be presented in three parts:

• Main ceremony premiere, 2 p.m.: Join the main celebration! Well wishes and wise words for our graduates from our honorary degree recipients, President Philip Steenkamp, Chancellor Nelson Chan, and other special guests.
• Virtual Graduate Procession video premiere, Faculty of Management: Immediately after the main ceremony, grads from the School of Business and the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management take the spotlight. Watch as each graduate is individually recognized for their achievements.
• Virtual Graduate Procession video premiere, Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences and the College of Interdisciplinary Studies. Also immediately after the main ceremony, grads from the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, School of Communication and Culture, School of Humanitarian Studies, School of Leadership Studies, School of Education and Technology and School of Environmental Studies are individually recognized for their achievements.

Graduates can join the fun at online watch parties

This year’s newest alumni can join their fellow graduates at 2 p.m. for special parties hosted by our Alumni Relations team, to watch the ceremony together and cheer each other during the Graduate Procession. Graduates, check your email for details!